How can we reduce food waste in Malaysia?

Here at Zero Waste Malaysia, we would like to share with you a few tips on reducing food waste, based on our 5R principles:

1. Refuse. The first and easiest step is always taking a step back and reflecting on your actual need.
2. Reduce.
3. Reuse.
4. Recycle.
5. Rot.

How does Malaysia manage food waste?

Food waste disposal is categorised under disposal of solid waste, which under the Malaysia Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672), it can be any methods from destruction, incineration, deposit or decomposing (Ngapan et al., 2012).

How can we reduce the wastage of food?

In this article, learn about how to reduce food waste in the home, at school, and on the go.

1. Avoid buying too much.
2. Think twice before throwing food away.
3. Always make a shopping list.
4. Organizing the kitchen with FIFO.
5. Store food correctly.
6. Make a weekly menu.
7. Keep a log of spoiled foods.
8. Freeze extras.

Why we should stop wasting food in Malaysia?

The amount of food wasted by Malaysians can fill the stomachs of two million people.Food is a basic necessity for every human being. It is an important component of measuring the cost of living in an area. If food prices become too expensive, then the cost of living will also increase.

What causes food waste in Malaysia?

The massive amount of discarded food from restaurants is mainly caused by consumers’ leftovers on plates, whereby 65% of food wastage could be avoidable if consumers take responsibility for a sustainable consumption[iv]. As a result, food courts and restaurants are second largest contributor to food waste in Malaysia.

What are 5 ways to reduce food waste?

Waste Not, Want Not: 14 Ways You Can Reduce Food Waste at Home

• Practice FIFO ( First In, First Out) Photo Source.
• Freeze to Make Them Last. Photo Source.
• Plan a Weekly Grocery List. Photo Source.
• Use-It-Up Meals. Photo Source.
• Make A Waste Log. Photo Source.
• Eat Local and Seasonal.
• From Soggy to Smoothie.
• Learn the Label Lingo.

How can we minimize waste?

Explore these tips for ways you can make a positive impact all year round.

1. Use a reusable bottle/cup for beverages on-the-go.
2. Use reusable grocery bags, and not just for groceries.
3. Purchase wisely and recycle.
4. Compost it!
5. Avoid single-use food and drink containers and utensils.
6. Buy secondhand items and donate used goods.

Why we should reduce food waste?

Benefits of Reducing Wasted Food
Reduces methane emissions from landfills and lowers your carbon footprint. Conserves energy and resources, preventing pollution involved in the growing, manufacturing, transporting, and selling food (not to mention hauling the food waste and then landfilling it).

Where does food waste go in Malaysia?

landfill
In Malaysia, about 16,688 tonnes of food waste is generated per day. Despite its bio-degradable characteristics which have high potential to be composted, nearly 80% of the generated food waste is still disposed at the landfill.

What is the problem of food waste?

What Are the Environmental Impacts of Food Waste? Only five percent of food is composted in the US and as a result, uneaten food is the single largest component of municipal solid waste. In landfills, food gradually breaks down to form methane, a greenhouse gas that’s up to 86 times more powerful than carbon dioxide.

What are the effects of food waste?

But wasted food isn’t just a social or humanitarian concern—it’s an environmental one. When we waste food, we also waste all the energy and water it takes to grow, harvest, transport, and package it. And if food goes to the landfill and rots, it produces methane—a greenhouse gas even more potent than carbon dioxide.

How does food waste occur?

The most common causes of household food waste is produce left too long in the fridge or freezer, followed by people not finishing their meals. Producing this wasted food uses 3.6 million hectares of land, 180 gigalitres of water, and generates 1 million tonnes of greenhouse gases.

What are examples of food waste?

Food waste refers to food such as plate waste (i.e., food that has been served but not eaten), spoiled food, or peels and rinds considered inedible that is sent to feed animals, to be composted or anaerobically digested, or to be landfilled or combusted with energy recovery.

How does food waste affect environment?

Food waste is not only damaging to your pocket, it’s also bad for the environment. Producing, moving, storing and cooking food uses energy, fuel and water. Each of which let off greenhouse gases contributing to climate change.By wasting food we are wasting precious water supplies.

How can we prevent food waste and loss of food?

Do the 10 tips on how to reduce food waste in our household:

1. Give ugly produce a chance.
2. Create a shopping list.
3. Plan your meals.
4. Check the storage.
5. Know your serving sizes.
6. Be creative with your next meal.
7. Share excess food.
8. Start your home garden.

What are 10 ways to reduce waste?

Here are 10 simple ways to reduce waste at home.

• Shop eco-friendly with reusable bags.
• Ditch disposables in the kitchen.
• Say so long to single serve – bulk up instead.
• Say no to disposable water bottles and coffee cups.
• Reduce food waste.
• Join buy-and-sell groups.
• Try a new way to buy (and sell) clothes.

How can we help in reducing the problem of waste disposal give two methods?

We can help in reducing the problem of waste disposal by these methods: By separating biodegradable substances from non-biodegradable substances. By reducing, reusing and recycling non-biodegradable substances. By putting the organic waste into compost pits dug in the ground and preparing compost.

How can the community reduce waste?

Some ways to reduce waste are:

1. not buying products wrapped in a lot of packaging materials.
2. choosing glass and cardboard over plastic and metal.
3. using your own shopping bag or basket, and refusing plastic bags at the store.
4. buying food in larger quantities to reduce the amount of packaging you bring home.

How can we raise awareness about food waste?

Here are eight steps you can take to help reduce food waste in your home, community and across the nation!

1. Prevent and Reduce Food Waste in Your Own Life.
2. Spread the Word.
3. Volunteer with Local Food Rescue Organizations.
4. Start a Food Waste Campaign in Your Community.
5. Support Businesses with Good Food Waste Practices.

How much waste does Malaysia produce?

Significantly, by 2018, Malaysia produces more than 0.94 million tonnes of mismanaged plastic wastes per year [25, 31]. Moh and Manaf [32] suggested that solid waste management is one of the main environmental problems in Malaysia owing to the country’s population growth and the development of landfill sites.

How much waste does Malaysia produce 2020?

Currently, over 23,000 tonnes of waste is produced each day in Malaysia. However, this amount is expected to rise to 30,000 tonnes by the year 2020. The amount of waste generated continues to increase due to the increasing population and development, and only less than 5% of the waste is being recycled.